Holy Family Catholic Church gives a warm welcome and compassionate support to refugees and immigrants. Parishioners show generosity in various ways to help persons from abroad.

Amani Group is a ministry, within Holy Family Catholic Church, assisting refugees and new immigrants resettled in Abilene, as they adjust in learning English, striving to be immersed in the new culture, and finding a welcoming community.

Refugees are individuals forced to flee their country and they have left behind or lost their loved ones, land, and their way of living. Immigrants made the hard decision to leave their native country, seeking better conditions to sustain their families lives with dignity. Both groups of individuals have gone through inconceivable hardship, yet sustained by their faith, they demonstrate an incredible resilience. Here they are hoping to find a new home, a chance to achieve dreams, and a place to practice and grow their faith.

As many of the Amani Group members have experienced similar patterns of a new country establishment, they work closely with the new resettled families to reach out for basic needs (food, clothing, household items, school supplies), reinforcing fellowship and integration (collect of items for Christmas baskets for the most in need, monthly families gathering to pray rosary followed by a potluck, skills teaching or development, assisting with job applications,…), and mostly to provide information and resources to continue fully living the Catholic faith in the parish (rides to Sunday Mass, meetings to share the scriptures readings in the native languages, parish activities registration,…).

As new needs to overcome unique and challenging situations emerge, we are called to keep our hearts open to a compassionate and creative care reflecting the love of Jesus Christ.

Please consider joining us in prayers for peace in the world and efforts to the works of mercy sharing and bringing joy to these new neighbors.

For more information, contact Marc and Mia 325-271-8933.